Russia erects new statue of KGB founder and mass murderer Felix Dzerzhinsky on September 11 in Omsk
The event was really solemn. The ceremony was attended by the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Siberian Federal District Anatoly Seryshev, the Governor of the Omsk Region Vitaly Khotsenko, the Head of the FSB Department for the Omsk Region Dmitry Shishkoedov, former heads of regional security services of the Omsk and Sverdlovsk regions, representatives of law enforcement agencies, veteran and youth army organizations of the Omsk region. From the Omsk Regional Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the head of the regional branch of the DPA, deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the region Anatoly Kazak, deputies of the Legislative Assembly Elena Ivchenko, Leonid Mikhailenko and Maxim Mikhailenko, activists of the Central and Kuibyshev Regional Council of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation were at the opening of the monument to Felix Dzerzhinsky.
After a few short speeches of the leaders, a solemn laying of garlands and flowers at the foot of the monument took place. What is interesting: the first persons clearly broadcast these theses about Dzerzhinsky's contribution to the formation of the Soviet state, his role in the creation of not only the Cheka, but also the system of combating homelessness, in the post-war restoration of the national economy, even in the organization of the sports society "Dynamo", which our "red" publicists have persistently repeated for many years in disputes with supporters of the complete "erasing" of the Soviet history of the country.
"First persons" said the right words about historical memory and preservation of the past. And Vladimir Kurpkin, the first deputy head of the Federal Security Service in the Sverdlovsk region, who participated in the opening of the monument, generally expressed hope that the monument to Dzerzhinsky would return to its place on Lubyanskaya Square on the 150th anniversary. All this indicates the changes that have occurred in the official assessment of the Soviet period of history. That is, it seems that the long-term efforts of the communists were not in vain. However, so far these changes concern only the formal, "parade" side of the history of the Soviet Union.
And one more thing: the installation of the monument would hardly be possible if it had not been initiated by the organization of FSB veterans. Despite its own low publicity, this organization, and in general law enforcement agencies, begin to form a public ideology in society. But para-militaristic quasi-Orthodox structures like dressed "Cossacks" and other "Russian communities", who sharply spoke out against him during the preparation for the opening of the monument to Dzerzhinsky, find themselves on the sidelines of political life.
And a few short interviews taken at the opening of the monument.
Anatoly Kazak, Head of the Regional Department of the DPA:
- Anatoly Antonovich, what can you say about today's event?
- What can I say? They did a good job.
Mikhail Minin, sculptor, author of the monument:
- In all photos, Dzerzhinsky is depicted in a rather "closed" pose - arms crossed on the chest or folded "in a lock". You can see that the shooting took place in unheated rooms, the person is cold, he is slouching. In general, he had poor health. You portrayed him in an open, even somewhat artistically defiant pose. He looks like a poet reading poems from a newly published collection. Why is that?
- What can I say? This is my vision. It's always made in a smelly overcoat, and I was asked not to repeat myself. I came up with a slightly different image. It was logical to make a book in his hand. This is a contemplative man, a man with an iron will, looking into the distance, into the future of the country.
- By the way, Dzerzhinsky really wrote poems in the high school of the gymnasium, and very romantic ones. For example, here:
"Every night something visits me,
Disembodied and silent,
A kind of mysterious vision
Stands over me in silence.
It gives me a kiss,
But this gift is incomprehensible to me:
Do you offer me your heart?
Or are you laughing at me, oh ice Lady?"
- Yes, he must have been recording something (smiles).
Andrey Kharchuk, head of the propaganda and agitation department of the Omsk Obsk OKJCPRF Committee, author of articles in defense of the idea of erecting a monument to Dzerzhinsky:
- Your assessment of what is happening today in Dzerzhinsky Square?
- I feel joy. For many years it was sad and painful to watch how filth pours on the Soviet era, and today in a solemn atmosphere with state and military honors they open a monument to one of the greatest figures of both the Soviet era and the history of all Russia - Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky. That's why I'm incredibly happy.
Evgenia Lifantieva.